“That was the bad luck we got with the goal but we didn’t deserve to be losing it anyway.

“We played some excellent football and it’s horrible because we’re in the business of picking up points, it’s vitally important.

“But the performance out there of all the players, individually and collectively, was very good against a team that is probably going to get promoted.

“The only point I would make to the players is certainly in the second half we should have pulled the trigger more. We had opportunities and we’ve tried to walk it into the goal or were looking for the perfect shooting opportunity where sometimes you’ve got to hit the ball.

“When there are lots of bodies in the box yourself and there are lots of Cardiff City defenders you hit a shot and it might not be the best shot, but you might get a deflection and it goes in.

“That would be my only little nit-pick at the players – they’ve had a terrific go at them.

“I can’t be upset with what the players gave.

“We’ve lost to a freaky goal and they gave me a great performance. So we’ve just got to dust ourselves down and go again.”

Blues were without 11 players before kick-off, then the injury woe continued.

“Hayden Mullins hadn’t even started jogging in the warm-up and he felt his calf tighten up,” reported Clark.

“Callum Reilly had a problem with his foot and he took another bang to that, so he obviously couldn’t continue, and Will

Packwood took a kick to his thigh, which started tightening up.”

Blues go to Leeds United on Saturday in the FA Cup third round with their striker problems exacerbated.

Jake Jervis is cup-tied, having played for Tranmere Rovers in the competition on loan.

Nikola Zigic is again suspended and Blues are still without Marlon King, Peter Lovenkrands and Akwasi Asante.

Marcel Henry-Francis, 18, a former QPR trainee who joined on non-contract terms earlier in the season, was called up to be among the substitutes against Cardiff after the readjustment caused by Mullins’ injury.

Clark said he would be speaking to West Ham United manager Sam Allardyce over loanee Robert Hall.

“I would say that Hayden will be available for the cup tie, but I’m still working with Sam Allardyce and hopefully he will give us permission for Rob Hall to be involved,” he added.